Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Warsaw Parks and Recreation Board welcomed and swore in their newest member, Ryan Burgher, during their meeting Tuesday.
Burgher is a lifelong resident of Warsaw and graduated from Warsaw Community High School and Grace College. He is the current executive director of AGAITAS, a local nonprofit that provides free athletic opportunities for children throughout Kosciusko County. Burgher is the head men’s soccer coach at WCHS, president of the Kosciusko County Soccer League and Warsaw Travel Soccer Club and is on the board of directors for the City-County Athletic Complex.
Burgher and Larry Ladd, president of the Parks and Recreation Board, were sworn in for their terms by Mayor Jeff Grose.
Grose stated, “Larry, with your leadership, and the entire board, I want to thank you for everything you do for the community and this city.”
During the election of the officers, Ladd reminded the board this is not replacing their previous president, Steve Haines, because “no one can replace him,” but is a change. Michelle Boxell, vice president, nominated Ladd to be the president again because of the great job he had done.
“It is a privilege to serve, not in place of Steve,” Ladd said, “but to kind of sit in his chair. I’ve learned a lot from him in my tenure here, and it’s a privilege. I appreciate it.”
Boxell was voted in as the vice president for the board.
In other business, Larry Plummer, parks superintendent, gave the year-end review for 2025. The report showed all the renovations and accomplishments the parks department had completed this last year including putting new roofs on the cabins at Lucerne Park; signage updates at Pike Lake and Lucerne Park; playground updates at Kiddieland; rental expansions; helping other departments with their jobs, such as having their skilled carpenters help with tasks; and even contracting jobs like the removal of the pier from Center Lake.
“All around we had a really good year,” said Plummer.
He noted that some of their sponsorships and grants for 2025 were down from previous years, but they were still able to have a great year regardless. With all the programs that the Parks and Recreation Department puts on, they saw a total of 23,232 participants across all programs and events.
“I’m surprised at all the in-house things you do to save money. It’s impressive,” stated Burgher.
“We’re lucky to have the staff we do,” stated Shaun Gardner, maintenance director. “I don’t know if we’ve thrown something at them that they haven’t figured out.”
“The thing about it, this doesn’t even cover our day-to-day operations,” Plummer said.
Reports
Gardner gave the maintenance report, stating after the year-end report from Plummer, there were only a couple more things he could add.
The Christmas display set-up and tear-down were both done without the fear of the weather getting in the way, as they were able to do both before the big snowfalls in November, and the one earlier in January.
The sleigh had to have work done, but Gardner complimented the parks staff on making it look brand new.
The three camels that are with the wise men display are getting a new paint job, thanks to a staff member who is “very artsy,” according to Gardner.
The department helped Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory with a door relocation, and building a wall. Warsaw Police Chief Scott Whitaker heard about the parks department’s work with the fire department and asked if they could build a wall for them.
Hire Park’s restroom project is almost complete.
They are working on refurbishing all of the picnic tables to make sure they are good to go for the spring.
Snow clearing is underway for the park department, as it seems to fall whenever it wants.
“It’s a blessing and a curse that the word has gotten out that we have so many talented guys,” said Gardner, “and it helps save the city some money, too.”
Plummer gave the recreation report, and they saw many great events, such as:
• The Nov. 19 Senior Yarn Tree event, which was sold out.
• They sent out 49 out of a possible 50 Letters to Santa.
• Light Up the Night had 1,200 participants.
• The movie nights on Dec. 19 and Jan. 16 had around 150 for both events.
• The coloring contest that concluded on Jan. 19 saw 80 entries, which may be their most participants to date. Also on Jan. 19, they had a Nerf battle and made room for three extra participants.
• Both the rock and country concerts have been secured, and the musicians will be announced at a later date.
• The Daddy’s Little Sweetheart dances will be on Feb. 7 and 8.
The next meeting of the city of Warsaw Parks and Recreation board will be at 5:15 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Warsaw Police Department Training Center.
